Due to health issues the actor has been forced to withdraw from the 2016 national tour of William Nicholson’s Shadowlands, with the producers, director and cast wishing him a speedy recovery.
The role of Warnie will now be played by Dennis Lill, who has agreed to step into the role for this latest tour of the production.
Directed by Alastair Whatley, Shadowlands is set to open on the 18th February at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. It will then tour to Salisbury, Eastbourne, Ipswich, Windsor, Croydon, Malvern, Worthing, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Birmingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Cardiff, Exeter and Richmond, with further dates to be announced.
Producers, Jon and Anne-Marie Woodley of Birdsong Productions, said of the news, “We are very sorry that Tony has had to leave and along with all the company of Shadowlands, we send our love and best wishes. We are delighted that Denis has so kindly agreed to step in at such short notice to take on the role of Warnie. Having both previously worked with Denis, we know he will be a lovely addition to the talented cast and crew of Shadowlands.”
The cast of Shadowlands is led by Steven Boxer as C.S. Lewis and Amanda Ryan as Joy Davidman, along with Dennis Lill as Warnie. They will be joined by Simon Shackleton as Professor Christopher Riley, Jeffrey Harmer as Rev ‘Harry’ Harrington, Ian Marr as Alan Gregg, Richard Holliday as Dr Maurice Oakley and Shannon Rewcroft as Douglas, with Holly Smith and Alistair Higgins in a number of supporting roles.
C.S.Lewis is comfortable in his life at Oxford University, smug in his convictions about God and His plan for the world until Joy and her young son enter his life and the bewildered theoretician of love in the abstract finally confronts its direct presence. This powerful drama raises questions about religion, humanity, society through a gripping story of love, belief and pain.
This major new production is produced by Birdsong Productions – the team behind the successful touring productions of Birdsong and Flare Path. It features lighting design by Alex Wardle and sound design by Dominic Bilkey.
Shadowlands embarks on its UK tour from the 18th February to the 30th July. For more information visit: http://www.shadowlandstour.com/.